The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-06-18

were dressed comfortably. This was
especially the case with the mon, who must
certainly have expected to encounter the
Icy fjords and w.covered mountains OF
the old home near the arctic circle, and not
tho fervor Of mid-continent July day.
One Of them, who kept little apart from
the rest, was especially fortified. His high
boots reaching above the knee and laced
from the ankle showed that he was the
Finlandor the brakeman had spoken Of
who had probably come to this country with
the nvowcd purpose Of using language to
his oxen that no American OK should hear.
His head was covered with large fur cap
with immense Tapping sidc.pieces designed
to turn down and protect his ears. The hot
wind was further defied by several gaily-
colored scarfs, one OF them tied around his
waist like large sash, double breasted
vest that must have been an heirloom, -
shccpskir coat, tho wool inside, together
with tho boots before referred to. He did
not appear to be too warm, though IL was
remarked by the observant crowd on the
platform that he wasn't shivering.
He was tall, finely formed specimen Of
manhood, with honest, blue eyes and an
intelligent expression. He appeared some.
what perplexed as he looked around. He
could not talk with the rest of the emigrants
but little in common. His inquiries in his
native tongue of the platform crowd con.
corning tho whereabouts of any OF his
countrymen did not meet with the most
fattering success
I'VE buried the last wan OF yes peoples"
said paddy, IAN we'll plant We too fore ye
knows it,"
"W'y don't you talk United Statesl"
asked another.
"The fish-bones are sticking in his teeth
| 80 he can't" put in third.
Then the crowd smiled at the surprising
| amount of humor it had developed, and
Judge wilkins pointed out the station agent
to the bewildered Finlander. He presented
u check and claimed small wooden iron
bound chest, painted vivid red. The chest
had heavy iron handles and an immense
handmade paddock. On one end of it was
painted in curious-shaped white letters,
'Petter Erik Peterson, Dakota, Prairie
City, Mort Ammerika, New York" He
carried a smaller chest in his hand bearing
the same legend. 1t is supposed that the
New York was added TO identify North
| America.
| Potter, which he soon anglicized to Peter,
| shouldered his trunk and walked away,
which act gave the crowd on the platform,
considerable respect for his strength, even
II 1t retained its poor opinion of him as a
| linguist. He succeeded in finding man
who could understand a few words Of his
language, who directed him towards a set
tlement Of his people several miles from
town, and he proceeded in that direction.
still carrying his baggage-other people
might trust their possessions out of their
sight il they wished to, but not he.
But Peter had many things in view; he
| hu1 tn t1,a ,Ns1I u
work, and he thought of it and it made his
burden lighter. For Peter had come on q
mission. Half the people in the little vii
lage in which he lived and in the little val
ley in which the village nestled had given
something toward his coming. His father
and brothers and sisters and many Of his
friends, had contributed money to his own
! little purse to make the sum sufficient to
buy the ticket to America. For they were
all very poor aid the steamship companies
| demanded a fabulous sum to carry one
across the ocean. But others had gone from
other villages and had made such sums OF
money in the new world that it was almost
impossible to comprehend the amount
And they sent part Of it back and repaid
their Indebtedness and enough more to buy
others tickets, and they had done the same
and gradually nearly the whole village had
1
were rich and happy and every man us good
Us every other man.
So it was time that this village bestirred
itself and started for America also. AND
Peter was selected because he was strong
and hardy and intelligent, and was bounC
to be great man some day anyhow. Ant
besides he had been working for three
years to get money enough for this very
purpose and..he was great traveller already
having been as far as Stockholm.
So they all gave Peter something to helY
him on his way. The carpenter made hi:
chest without charge and the painter let
tered it and would not hear Of pay. Ant
PETERS grandfather, Hendrick Antijuntt
Peterson, who lived up on the mountain
took Off his sheepskin coat which he had
worn for sixty years, and which was Just in
the very height Of fashion, and put it or
him with his blessing, explaining that as he
understood it this place, America. was or
the other side Of the world and accordingly
had winter when Finland and Europe and
Asia were enjoying summer, and reckoning
from this stand point, he found that Peter
would reach there in the dead Of the cold
season ard good sheepskin coat or two
would not come amiss
And as Peter trudged along he thought
of all these, but he was only home-sick and
wished himself back in the little village in
the little valley between the mountains
when he thought of another. And her name
was Mary. But though the thought OF hel
made him long to be back to his native
village it also made the iron-bound chest
seem lighter, and he went on towards the
settlement all the faster. For Mary was
the one above all others that he had come
to America to work for. Mary haG
helped him more than all the rest-she hat
given him more. She had made him the
brght-colored sash he wore-sheared the
sheep, carded and spun the wool, dyed the
yarn and knit it, all with her own hands, az
surprise for him on the day he left. Ant
had she not, too, offered to give him the
little money she had earned tending the
flock of goats for awealthier neighbor, thai
he might buy more comforts on his long
Journey to far-off America! And above
every thing else, she had given him her love
and was waiting back there in their little
native valley to come to him. For it was
understood that Mary was to be the first tt
come. All his friends agreed to that anG
wanted it to be so, and Peter felt so strone
that it did not seem that 1t would take him
long to earn enough in this land Of promis,
to send for her. So the picture remained
before his eyes that bright day when hi
sailed away in little fishing boat from tht
nearest seaport town to his own village
and of Mary, who had come across thu
mountain with him, standing there on tn,
quay, waving little yellow handkerchie
at him rs he went away from his native
land to one in which he would be- free an(
make home for her. And as he wen
across the prairie, to him she was still